The term “superfood” seems to be everywhere now and describes everything from honey to avocados. You might be surprised to learn that bananas – America’s favorite fruit – is also a superfood, only has about 120 calories, and offers five main benefits to help with overall health and wellness. Here is why bananas are an unexpected superfood.
They are great for workouts and recovery
They lower high blood pressure
Speaking of potassium, that’s the main ingredient in bananas that helps regulate sodium and lower blood pressure. By eating 1-2 bananas a day, you can lower your blood pressure up to three points, which can prevent a stroke. It also lowers your risk for hypertension and other heart problems.
An Unexpected Superfood: Bananas
They help lift your spirits
Depression is an extremely common issue, and bananas can help ward off some of the symptoms like feeling down and anxiety. Bananas contain tryptophan, which is an an amino acid that produces serotonin. Low serotonin levels are widely-considered to play a big role in depression, so by eating bananas regularly, you can raise those levels and feel more energetic and happy.
They help when you’re sick
When you’re having diarrhea, it can be hard to know what to eat. Bananas are a good choice because they offer just enough fiber to help your stomach, as well as sugars to replace what you’ve lost. Potassium is also commonly lost when you’re ill, so eating potassium-rich bananas helps balance everything out. They’re very mild, so they won’t aggravate your stomach further.
They help with weight loss
Bananas are a great snack to add to your weight-loss diet. They are high in natural sugar, so they can help cut your cravings for less healthy sweets like candy and chocolate, and the fiber helps promote a “full” feeling so you feel satisfied after just one banana. Bananas are also very convenient, like processed and packaged snacks, but have much less calories, so you can enjoy them guilt-free.
